P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: IMPROVED ASSEMBLY FOR DISPLAY OF PLANTS AND THE LIKE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Improved Assembly for Display of plants and the like Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved display assembly for displaying articles such as plants and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved 5 display assembly for displaying articles such as plants which increases efficient use of available space and items for sale. Background of the Invention It is known in retail locations that rental of floor space for display of articles such as plants is a premium. Hence it is usual for a retailer/vendor to desire to display as many 0 articles as practicable per volume of floor space available to it so as to optimise sales of said articles. The sales results of plants, flowers and the like in a retail location also depend on a number of factors including for example the manner in which the items are presented to customers and the condition of the items. 5 Plants or shrubs are often sold by a commercial nursery or a garden centre for subsequent transplantation into the ground by a customer. The roots of the plants are typically disposed in a suitable container that also contains soil or another suitable growth or plant food source medium to cover the roots so as to protect the roots from air and to retain moisture. 20 Retailers or vendors often display containerized plants of this sort by standing the containers upright on a display surface and more typically on the ground or floor. This limits the number of plants/shrubs on display, which is an economic drawback in terms of optimizing sales return per unit of display space. In order to maximize the number of plants on a display, in some instances plants (e.g., 25 flowers, vegetables, herbs and the like) are placed on racks for transportation from a grower's facility to a store or other retail location. Conventionally, the racks comprise a wheeled frame or base having upright posts that support a series of vertically arranged
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shelves or trays. The racks are loaded with plants (usually in small plastic pots) at a grower's greenhouse or nursery, and then rolled into a truck/trailer for transportation. At the retail location, the racks are rolled out into a display area, where the plants can be viewed and selected by customers. 5 This approach seeks to maximise the number of plants shipped from a grower or nursery to a retailer by positioning the trays as close together as possible, i.e., with minimum vertical spacing. At the retail location however, one particular drawback with this is that it is important for the retail customers to be able to see and reach the individual plants, which is not possible with the trays positioned closely atop one another. This clearly 0 detracts from the customers overall experience and may adversely affect a prospective purchase. Even further, the plants require watering and other care while on display, however, with the trays placed closely together it is difficult to water or otherwise reach the innermost plants, at least without damaging those at the outer edges of the trays, so that the former 5 are frequently neglected and become unsellable. It is also essential from the retailer's standpoint that the racks be simple for store personnel to operate. Safety is also a significant factor, since the racks are very heavy, especially when fully loaded, and could cause injury to customers or store personnel if they were to topple over during use. 0 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved assembly for display of flowers, plants, shrubs and alike, which addresses one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. 25 It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved assembly for display of flowers, plants, shrubs and alike, which increases efficient use of available space for sale of said articles. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention there is provided an improved assembly for optimising 2 display of plants, flowers, shrubs and the like for sale, the assembly including: a base having a substantially planar platform, the base including support members mounted to the platform wherein the support members include a ground/floor engaging portion for stable engagement of the assembly with the floor; 5 a plurality of support panels, the panels being adapted for mounting on the base in a substantially upright condition, the support panels including a series of stepped structures forming vertically spaced apart and offset shoulder portions; one or more trays having a substantially planar platform for receiving plants, flowers, shrubs and the like, the each tray including attachment means for engagement 0 with opposite shoulder portions of adjacent panels; wherein plants, flowers and shrubs and the like can be received on the trays and base platform in vertically and horizontally spaced apart relation sufficient to allow display of an effective number of plants per unit space while maintaining aesthetics for customers and allowing access to the plants for watering. 5 The present invention represents an advance over the prior art attempts to optimise the number of plants on display at a vendor for prospective sale. For example, the present assembly provides a practical means for displaying an increased number of plants per unit space occupied by the assembly, while allowing ready access of sales staff to all 0 plants on display for maintenance substantially minimising inadvertent damage to plants. This has the concomitant effect of optimising efficient use of available space and sales return per unit of rental space. The base can include a boss distal to each of the floor engaging portions, extending above the platform. 25 The support panels and the each boss member of the base can include complementary engagement means allowing mounting of the panels to the base. The complementary engagement means can include an internal recess portion in the 30 each boss for receiving therein a mating portion on the panels. The panels can include feet members which are adapted to mate with the internal recess of the boss in the base. 3 The panels can include an upright post on which there extends a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal arms, wherein the uppermost arm is interconnected to its neighbour by a first vertical leg forming the first stepped structure. Each subsequent arm member is interconnected to its next lower neighbouring arm by a further vertical leg forming the 5 series of stepped structures. Each stepped structure includes a shoulder portion which is vertically spaced and horizontally disposed in offset relation to its neighbour. 0 The attachment means on the trays can include a finger or a pair of fingers on opposite ends of a tray for attachment to opposite shoulders of adjacent support panels so that the platform of a tray spans said adjacent shoulders. Preferably each arm on a panel provides a support for attachment of multiple trays 5 extending beneath a stepped structure. In one embodiment of the present invention the assembly can include multiple trays on a given horizontal arm member beneath the shoulder of its neighbour. 0 In a further embodiment of the present invention, multiple assemblies can be joined in a series by complementary attachment means on support panels of adjacent assemblies. Preferably the attachment means can be automatic locking and manual release. In a related aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved assembly for 25 optimising display of plants, flowers, shrubs and the like for sale, the assembly including: a base having a substantially planar platform, the base including support members mounted to the platform wherein the support members include a ground/floor engaging portion for stable engagement of the assembly with the floor and oppositely 30 disposed boss members extending above the platform; a plurality of support panels including a series of stepped structures forming vertically spaced apart and offset shoulder portions wherein the panels include a flange 4 means receivable by the boss for mounting on the base in a substantially upright condition; one or more trays having a substantially planar platform for receiving plants, flowers, shrubs and the like, the each tray including attachment means for engagement 5 with opposite shoulder portions of adjacent panels; wherein plants, flowers and shrubs and the like can be received on the trays and base platform in vertically and horizontally spaced apart relation sufficient to allow display of an effective number of plants per unit space while maintaining aesthetics for customers and allowing access to the plants for watering. 0 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention is more readily understood an embodiment of the invention will be described by way of illustration only with reference to the drawings wherein: 5 Figure 1 shows an exploded view in part front elevation of an improved assembly for display of plants in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an improved assembly for display of plants in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled 0 condition; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an improved assembly for display of plants in accordance with an embodiment of figure 2; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an improved assembly for display of 25 plants in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments with respect to the accompanying drawings 30 Referring to Figure 1 there is shown an improved assembly for efficient display of plants, flowers, shrubs and the like to optimise the number of plants on display per unit of space. The improved assembly includes a base 1, a plurality of support panels 2 mountable to the base in a substantially upright condition, and one or more trays 3 5 having a substantially planar platform for receiving plants, flowers, shrubs and the like. In an assembled condition as shown in figure 2, each tray 3 is mounted at its ends by attachment means 6 on opposite shoulder portions of adjacent support panels 2 forming 5 a stable platform. As shown in the figures, the support panels include a series of stepped structures 4a, 4b, and 4c forming vertically spaced apart and offset shoulders 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. The support panel(s) also include a flange(s) 11, which allow mounting to the base. 0 The base I includes a substantially planar platform 7, and a series of spaced apart support legs 8, each having a ground engaging foot 9, connected to the base for supporting the platform of the base. There is shown a side frame 10 mounted on the base or the support legs and forming a retaining wall about at least a portion of the platform 5 for retaining article(s) thereon The support legs 8 include a boss 12 distal to each of the ground engaging feet, which extend above the platform. The each boss 12 includes an internal recess for receiving flange(s) I1 of the support panels. The flanges 11 and the each boss12 can include 0 complementary engagement means allowing secure mounting of the panels to the base. As shown, the support panels 2 include an upright post 13 on which there extend a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal arms 14, 15, 16 and 17. The uppermost horizontal arm 14 coincides with shoulder 5a. 25 The uppermost arml4 is interconnected to its neighbour 15 by a first vertical leg 18 forming the first stepped structure 4a. Each subsequent horizontal arm is interconnected to its next lower neighbouring arm by a further vertical leg forming the series of stepped structures. 30 Each arm 14, 15, 16 and 17 includes a shoulder portion 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d respectively. And each arm 15, 16 and 17 includes an internal arm portion extending substantially 6 beneath the shoulder of its nearest upper neighbouring arm. In this case as shown in figure 3 each arm on a panel provides a support for attachment of multiple trays extending beneath a stepped structure. 5 The attachment means on the trays can include a finger or a pair of fingers on opposite ends of a tray for attachment to opposite shoulders of adjacent support panels so that the platform of a tray spans opposite shoulders of adjacent support panels. In an assembled condition as shown in figures 2, 3 and 4 the trays 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are 0 vertically spaced and offset from each other. A second, and even further trays, may be attached to internal arm portions of the support panels (figure 3) to increase plant numbers on display without detracting from aesthetics and accessibility for maintenance of plants displayed thereon. 5 The assembly optimises use of space for display of an increased number of plants for sale while providing sufficient room to allow access by customers and watering without undue damage to plants. Referring to figure 4 there is shown a plurality of assemblies in accordance with the 0 present invention attached to each other in a series. The method of attachment (not shown) includes complementary mating components on adjacent support panels of adjoining assemblies. It should be understood that the above description is of a preferred embodiment and 25 included as illustration only. It is not limiting of the invention. Clearly variations of the improved stackable stillage system would be understood by a person skilled in the art without any inventiveness and such variations are included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. 7